So, I'm now updating faster

So, I'm now updating faster. I can now read all of your great reviews that have been helping to shape the story. I never planned that Penny would be back tied into a jump rope again. But, it did happen, and that shows how my mind works.

Enter the world of Hairspray again

Link and I got into his car, while Seaweed got into his, which is a part of the diversion.

Within 10 minutes, we had arrived at the back of Penny's house, and Link went to the front, while Seaweed went up the ladder to inspect the condition of Penny's room. She was tied to the bed again, and looked to see what the source of the ring of feet on metal was.

I could see her from my spot in Link's car, and she also saw me, and knew what was going to happen. She gave me a quick smile, told Seaweed something, and then turned toward her door.

A few minutes later, Seaweed left my line of view, took Penny down the ladder, and waved at me, and went to Seaweed's car next to Link's.

Almost right after them, Link was sneaking around the corner, avoiding the disdainful glances of Prudy Pingleton.

Once in the car, Link gave me a peck on the cheek, and we left the residence, with Penny and Seaweed right behind us. We finally arrived at the park, and Penny, Seaweed, and Link got everything ready, and then helped me out of the car, and to the picnic site. Everything looked beautiful. It was overcast outside, but not rainy, and they had set up candles for light. Everything was neatly placed on the red-checkered picnic blanket, and everything looked just too perfect to distress.

"Good morning, ladies. May I offer you some chicken?" offered Seaweed. We all went into a fit of giggles, and then all of us sat down and enjoyed the food.

"Wow, Seaweed. Your mother can cook up a feast, and make it look easy, too."

"Well, she does take 2 hours to fix lunch, and that's just lunch. Dinner is exceptional, and at 8. We're all so hungry from dancing, and she just won't make a dinner that only takes a few minutes. Inez and I just laugh at her, and she shushes us and tells us to go do a chore or something. It's really crazy."

"Well, at least it's good. That would be really bad if it took her hours, and it was horrible," said Penny.

"Yeah. Well, I think that now it is time to find out how well Tracy's mother cooks, baby," cooed Seaweed.

"Well, let me put it this way, dear," answered Penny. "Tracy's mother makes dessert just as well as she eats it."

"It's true. She can't wait to have an excuse to make something as simple as a simple cake. She is always finding excuses to make dessert, and then she forces it down our throats."

"Every time I'm at the Turnblad's, I'm constantly eating dessert and other foods, but mostly dessert," added Penny.

"At least it's better than not eating," Link said, speaking for the first time.

"Hey, Cracker Boy finally found his voice," Seaweed said sarcastically. Seaweed never used that nickname anymore, and to use it was a way of lifting Link's spirit. Usually it worked, but it didn't now. Something was wrong, and we couldn't tell what was wrong, and Link wouldn't tell us.

"Let's eat the delicious dessert that Edna made for us," he said, after the third time we asked him.

"Link, we're your friends, we can keep anything safe you would tell us," Penny said.

"You wouldn't understand," he mumbled.

"Who would understand better than me, Link?" I asked him.

"Even you wouldn't understand. You all seem to have better lives."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked, my temper rising.

"It means that you all have loving parents, and will always be there for you."

"Not me. I have a mother that ties me up, and sprays holy water at me and says 'devil child, devil child.' Would you like a mother like that?"

"I don't have a mother, Penny."

"You have a father, and I just have a mother who would much rather kill me than tie me up, but she doesn't want to go to jail."

"BREAK IT UP," I yelled as I stood up, completely forgetting about my twisted ankle. "I'm tired of hearing you two row like to siblings. All I hear from you two is bickering; I'm tired of hearing you two bicker about every little thing."

"Well then, I'll see you later," said Link, and then he walked off, not caring to look back at our faces, or to look back and laugh, pretending everything was a joke.

I stood there until he left my view, and I heard his car engine. At that point, I was shaking in anger and the pain in my ankle came back to me. I quickly sat back down, and I saw Penny and Seaweed with confused looks on their faces.

After a minute or so, Seaweed swallowed hard, and offered Penny a piece of cake. She shook her head, and turned towards me. "I'm sorry, Tracy. I won't try to tell you that it wasn't my fault, when I know that it was both of our faults. I can't bear to think of the weight that is upon your shoulders right now, and I know that your burden is because of me. I'm sorry."

"Hey," I said in a small voice. "What are friends for?"

Penny laughed softly, and then accepted Seaweed's offer of cake. I then understood what Seaweed was saying earlier, clearer. It was partly Penny's fault for Link's leave, and now I was bearing the weight of her mistake.

"Well, I think that we should leave, and get you two back before it rains," said Seaweed, motioning to the fast-darkening sky.

Within fifteen minutes, we had everything in the car, and ready to go and I managed to limp to the car. Just as we got into the car, a downpour came.

At the front door, my mother ushered us into the house, fretting once again about being out in the rain.

"Why are you back so early? I thought that you guys were going to stay awhile," my mother asked.

"Link left just before we started dessert, and it was very awkward after that," I answered.

"What?" asked my mom.

"Link left us for some reason. He wouldn't tell us what was wrong. Then, Penny started in, and they fought, and he just up and left."

"Oh, Tracy, I'm sorry. I remember last time he blew you off. Just give it some time, and then try calling him. By the way, Penny, I bought you some clothes, and they are laying on the bed in Tracy's room. You might want to change, seeing as they are soaking wet. I think they are the right size. Tracy, you go change, too. I'll make some hot chocolate. Then you both need to start on your homework." The phone rang as soon as my mother stopped talking, and Penny and I went to change.

My mother really outdid herself, and I could tell that she went to Pinky's seeing as she "bought" Penny some fancy dresses, along with semi-casual dresses. Penny's face lit up, and she chose a pink dress, and immediately put it on.

"Penny, don't let Seaweed see you in that. He might just faint," I advised, hiding my giggles of delight.

"Right, I'll remember that," Penny replied, obviously laughing.

Finally, Penny emerged from the bathroom where she was changing, and I ran up to her to give her a hug. She looked so beautiful, and her hair was pulled over to one side, and she also seemed to have a faint glow.

"Do you like it, Tracy?"

"Do I like it, I want it."

"I don't think that it would fit you, dear."

Penny and I heard the soft swish of an iron, and left for the ironing room.

My mother put her iron on the table before looking up. "I knew that you would pick that dress, Penny. It looked very you when I picked it up. I went to Pinky's, and you have a few more dresses that are being altered. I hope that you like the dresses that I picked for you. There are some casual dresses in there for you, for school and such, and your dresser is on the right. Now, Prudy just called, and she is confused about where you are, and she asked whether you were here or not, and I told her no. Get to work on your homework, girls, and dinner will be in about an hour, when I finish the ironing."

"Thanks, Mrs. Turnblad."

"Penny, I told you to call me Edna."

"Right, sorry Mrs. Turnblad."

My mom shook her head, and went back to work.

The next few hours were pretty boring. Just as my mother and Penny and I finished, the phone rang. My mother emerged, and said that is was for me, and told me that it was Link.

Well…

Excellent cliffhanger, wouldn't you agree. I just can't wait to hear what Link has to say. I still don't know other than he called. I hope to update soon, and I wish you the best.

Giving you lots of love,

Winterluna